Collapsible table

ABSTRACT

A collapsible table is described utilizing a continuous sheet of flexible material for a top and having a plurality of slats secured therebeneath. The slats in combination with the flexible top permit the top to be folded with the slats on the outside for convenient storage. A pair of end bars are positioned at each end of the top and include locking bars. Sideplates having legs pivotally secured thereto are placed in abutting relationship to the abutting surfaces the legs are positioned so that when they are pivoted to their unfolded position, they contact the locking surfaces, thereby securing the sideplates and end bars to provide a sturdy table configuration.

United States Patent [72] inventor William N. Woodrufi 8022 North 10thAve., Phoenix, Ariz. 85021 [21] Appl. No. 10,466 [22] Filed Feb. 11,1970 [45] Patented Dec. 28, 1971 [54] COLLAPSIBLE TABLE 7 Claims, 9Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 108/34, 108/112, 108/129, 108/157 [51] 1nt.Cl A471) 3/04[50] Field o1Search.. 108/67, 112,125,153, 38, 34,33,127,129,132,l57,156; 5/1 14, 1 12; 248/188; 297/17 [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 740,846 10/1903 Giddings 108/157 1,303,4875/1919 McCune 5/114 1,476,279 12/1923 Basford 5/112 1,572,282 2/1926Grignon 108/112 1,877,654 9/1932 Flink 108/129 Primary Examiner-FrancisK. Zugel Attorney-Drummonds, Cahill & Phillips ABSTRACT: A collapsibletable is described utilizing a continuous sheet of flexible material fora top and having a plurality of slats secured therebeneath. The slats incombination with the flexible top permit the top to be folded with theslats on the outside for convenient storage. A pair of end bars arepositioned at each end of the top and include locking bars. Sideplateshaving legs pivotally secured thereto are placed in abuttingrelationship to the abutting surfaces the legs are positioned so thatwhen they are pivoted to their unfolded position, they contact thelocking surfaces, thereby securing the sideplates and end bars toprovide a sturdy table configuration.

PATENTEDUEB28I97I 3,630,155

SHEET 1 0F 3 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM N. WOODRUFF ATTORNEYS PATENTED UEC28 197i SHEET 2 [IF 3INVENTOR. WILLIAM N. WOODRUFF ATTORNEYS PATENTED [E628 I97! SHEET 3 BF 3INVENTOR.

WILLIAM N. WOODRU FF COLLAPSIBLE TABLE The present invention pertains tofolding tables, and more particularly, to a collapsible table that maybe conveniently disassembled for storage in a minimum of space.

The prior art is replete with designs of collapsible tables that may becollapsed" for storage. The use of such equipment frequently dictatesthe requirement of sturdy tables that, while nevertheless occupying aminimum of space in their collapsed state, must nevertheless provide arigid top surface when in use. Prior art designs have included suchfeatures as rolled tops utilizing a flexible material and breakdownconstruction. These prior art designs have universally failed in eitherof two requirements, viz, rugged, sturdy configuration when unfolded,including a firm, unyielding top, and minimal space requirements whencollapsed or folded.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide acollapsible table that may be stored in a minimum space when in a foldedposition.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a collapsibletable that is extremely sturdy and rugged while nevertheless beingreadily collapsible.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide acollapsible table that may readily be assembled and disassembled withoutthe use of tools.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art as the description thereof proceeds.

The present invention may be described by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which;

FIG. I is a perspective view of a table of the present invention in itscollapsed form.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the table of the present invention inits unfolded condition, ready for use.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the table of FIG. 2, taken alongline 3-3.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of FIG. 3, takenalong line 4-4.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the table of thepresent invention,- showing the details of an end of the sideplate.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view, partly in section, of a portionof the table of the present invention, showing the details of an end ofan end bar.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of FIG. 2, taken alongline 77.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view, in section, of the tabletop of FIG. 1in its partially unfolded condition, illustrating the method of erectionof the table of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of FIG. 3 and isidentical to FIG. 4 except showing the elements slightly displaced asthey would be during erection.

Referring to FIG. I, the collapsed table shown therein will obviously beplaced in a suitable container for transport. The table in its collapsedforrn comprises a folded top 10 which has been folded about end bars 12and 12a. Sideplates l3 and 14 together with transverse braces l5, l6,and 17 may conveniently be arranged in a rectangular column havingapproximately twice the cross-sectional area of the folded top 10 andend bars 12 and 12a as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIGS. 27, the top 10 comprises a sheet of flexible topmaterial 11 having a predetermined length and width. A plurality ofslats 20 are secured to the bottom surface of the material 11 and arearranged in parallel contiguous to each other to permit the top 10 to befolded as shown in FIG. 1 with the slats on the outside. The flexibletop material 11 is passed over a rounded shoulder 22 of the end bar 12and secured to the end bar through the expediency of a stringer 25fastened to the end bar 12 and clamping the top material 11 in a channel26 provided therefor. A similar arrangement is provided at the end bar12a at the opposite end of the continuous sheet of flexible top material11.

The end bars each include an abutting surface such as that shown at 30in FIG. 6, the purpose of which will become apparent as the descriptionherein proceeds. Each end bar also The sideplates l3 and 14, as with theend bars 12 and 12a, 7 are identical. Sideplate 13 supports legs 40 and41 pivotallysecured thereto, while side plate 14 supports legs 42 and 43pivotally secured thereto. Each leg is pivoted about a shaft such as abolt 52 shown in FIG. 5 and is spaced from the corresponding sideplateby a spacer, such as 53. When the pins 37 and 38 are inserted in theholes 35 and 36, the abutting surface 30 on the end bar 12 contacts acorresponding abutting surface 54 on the sideplate 13. The leg 42 maythen be pivoted in the direction of the arrow 56, causing the leg toslide into contact with the locking surface 32. Each comer of the tablethus comprises mating abutting surfaces of the corresponding end bar andsideplate. As each leg is pivoted downwardly to its unfolded position,it slides over a corresponding locking surface, thereby locking thesideplate firmly into position. The unfolded and locked position may beseen in FIG. 7. The leg 41 is in its unfolded position and has beenpivoted about bolt 60 in the direction indicated by the arrow 61. Sincethe leg 41 was spaced from the end plate l3 by a spacer 63, it slidesinto locking position against locking surface 64 of locking bar 65 tolock the sideplate 13 to the end bar 120. The leg 41 may be locked inits unfolded position by a diagonal brace 68 having a follower 69slidably secured in a channel 70 and locked into the position shown inFIG. 7 by a spring-loaded latch 72. A second diagonal brace 73 ispivotally secured to the end bar 12a and is releasably secured at itsopposite end to leg 41.

The sideplates l3 and I4 include channels 75 and 76 respectively toreceive the sides of the flexible top and the ends of the slats 20. Theend bars 12 and 12a each include suitable supports 80 and 81 forreceiving transverse braces 15 and 16; flat leaf springs 82 and 83 maybe used to lock the braces 15 and 16 in place. A larger and centrallypositioned transverse brace 17 is secured between end bars 12 and 12a byproviding a pair of rails 89 and 90 between which extends a pin 91. Asecond pin 92 is positioned above the pin 91 and guides the brace 17 byengaging a slot 94 provided therein. A spring-loaded pivoted latch ismounted in a slot 96 in the brace 17 and engages the pin 91 to lock thetransverse brace 17 in position. Identical rails 89 and 90, as well aspins 91 and 92, are provided on the end bars 12 and 12a; an identicallatch 95 is provided at each end of the transverse support bar 17.

The assembly of the table of the present invention may now be described.The collapsed table, such as that shown in FIG. I, is assembled by firstunfolding the top 10 as shown in FIG. 8. As mentioned previously, theslats 20 have been secured to the material 11 so as to be on theexterior of the material when the top 10 is in its folded position. Theslats 20 are arranged in parallel and contiguous to each other and itmay be noted by reference to FIGS. 1, 4, 7, and 8 that the width of thesucceeding slats varies to enable the top to be folded to provide arectangular cross section such as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8. The middleslat 20a is sufficiently wide to span the width of the remaining slatsfolded about end bars 12 and 12a.

As the top is unfolded and the end bars 12 and 12a fold down into theiruncollapsed position, the brace 17 is positioned with the slot 94therein generally aligned with the pin 92 (see FIG. 9). As the end baris rotated into its final uncollapsed position, the pin 92 slides intothe slot 94 while the latch 95 snaps over the pin 91, thus locking theend bars in position with the flexible top material ll under tension.The sideplates l3 and 14 are then positioned on opposite sides of theunfolded top with the channels 75 and 76 engaging and supporting theedges of the unfolded top. As a sideplate is placed in position, thelegs pivoted thereto are pivoted into their extended position, thussliding into locking position and locking the sideplate to the end bar.To add a final modicum of rigidity to the top in its unfolded position,braces and 16 may be slipped into place by positioning them between theend bars 12 and 12a beneath the top 10 and sliding them into positionuntil the leaf springs 82 and 83 "snap" into position and lock thebraces in place.

Collapsing the erected table is accomplished by removing the plates 13and 14 by pivoting the legs, the top is then folded by depressing thelatches 95 and pivoting an end bar 12 or 12av away from the transversebrace 17. The braces l5, l6, and 17 then simply fall away, permittingthe top to be folded.

The sideplates l3 and 14 are therefore readily removable and areautomatically unlocked when the legs 40-43 are moved to their foldedposition. The automatic unlocking occurs as each leg pivots about itscorresponding pivot and slides out of contact with the locking surfaceof the corresponding locking bar. When assembled, the table presents acontinuous flat top of flexible material which has been rendered flatand rigid through the expediency of the adjacent slats therebeneath andthe transverse braces. Unusual stiffness is afiorded by the channels 75and 76 since the channels grasp the edge of the slats; the resultingassembled table provides a top so firm and free of discontinuities orsagging that it is difficult to recognize that the top is collapsible.

Iclaim:

l. A collapsible table comprising:

a. a continuous sheet of flexible top material having a predeterminedlength and width, and having two ends, two sides and a top and bottomsurface,

b. a plurality of slats secured to the bottom surface of said topmaterial parallel to the width thereof, said slats arranged in parallelcontiguous to each other and having varying widths to permit said topmaterial to be folded with said slats on the outside to form a columnhaving a rectangular cross section;

c. a first and a second end bar, each secured to a different end of saidflexible top along the width thereof, each end bar including:

1. an abutment surface at each end of said end bar, 2. a pair of lockingbars, each adjacent an abutment surface and each having a lockingsurface parallel to and displaced inwardly of said end from saidabutment surface, said locking surface facing away from the end of saidend bar,

d. a first and a second sideplate releasably mounted along the sides ofsaid flexible top, each plate including:

I. an abutment surface at each end of said sideplate, each for abuttingthe abutment surface on one end of each of said end bars,

2. a pair of table legs pivotally secured thereto, said legs pivotablein a plane parallel to said locking surface and having a folded and anunfolded position,

3. each of said table legs positioned to pivot into contact with saidlocking surface when pivoted from the folded to the unfolded position.

2. The combination set forth in claim I, wherein said sideplates includea channel extending therealong to receive and support the sides of saidflexible top.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said sideplates includea channel extending therealong to receive and support the sides of saidflexible top, and wherein said channel also receives and supports endsof said slats.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1, including first registrationmeans secured to said end bars and second registration means secured tosaid sideplates, said first and second registration means coming intocontact when the abutment surfaces of said end bars and sideplates abuteach other for establishing and maintaining alignment of said end barsand sideplates.

5. The combination set forth in claim 1, including locking means forlocking said legs in the unfolded position.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1, including a transverse braceremovably extending from one end bar to another and positionedtransversely of said slats in contact therewlth,

said brace being of a length to force said end bars apart when in placeand thus apply tension to said flexible material.

7. The combination set forth in claim 4, wherein said first and secondregistration means comprise pins extending from said sideplates andreceiving holes in said end bars.

1. A collapsible table comprising: a. a continuous sheet of flexible topmaterial having a predetermined length and width, and having two ends,two sides and a top and bottom surface, b. a plurality of slats securedto the bottom surface of said top material parallel to the widththereof, said slats arranged in parallel contiguous to each other andhaving varying widths to permit said top material to be fOlded with saidslats on the outside to form a column having a rectangular crosssection; c. a first and a second end bar, each secured to a differentend of said flexible top along the width thereof, each end barincluding:
 1. an abutment surface at each end of said end bar,
 2. a pairof locking bars, each adjacent an abutment surface and each having alocking surface parallel to and displaced inwardly of said end from saidabutment surface, said locking surface facing away from the end of saidend bar, d. a first and a second sideplate releasably mounted along thesides of said flexible top, each plate including:
 1. an abutment surfaceat each end of said sideplate, each for abutting the abutment surface onone end of each of said end bars,
 2. a pair of table legs pivotallysecured thereto, said legs pivotable in a plane parallel to said lockingsurface and having a folded and an unfolded position,
 3. each of saidtable legs positioned to pivot into contact with said locking surfacewhen pivoted from the folded to the unfolded position.
 2. Thecombination set forth in claim 1, wherein said sideplates include achannel extending therealong to receive and support the sides of saidflexible top.
 2. a pair of locking bars, each adjacent an abutmentsurface and each having a locking surface parallel to and displacedinwardly of said end from said abutment surface, said locking surfacefacing away from the end of said end bar, d. a first and a secondsideplate releasably mounted along the sides of said flexible top, eachplate including:
 2. a pair of table legs pivotally secured thereto, saidlegs pivotable in a plane parallel to said locking surface and having afolded and an unfolded position,
 3. The combination set forth in claim1, wherein said sideplates include a channel extending therealong toreceive and support the sides of said flexible top, and wherein saidchannel also receives and supports ends of said slats.
 3. each of saidtable legs positioned to pivot into contact with said locking surfacewhen pivoted from the folded to the unfolded position.
 4. Thecombination set forth in claim 1, including first registration meanssecured to said end bars and second registration means secured to saidsideplates, said first and second registration means coming into contactwhen the abutment surfaces of said end bars and sideplates abut eachother for establishing and maintaining alignment of said end bars andsideplates.
 5. The combination set forth in claim 1, including lockingmeans for locking said legs in the unfolded position.
 6. The combinationset forth in claim 1, including a transverse brace removably extendingfrom one end bar to another and positioned transversely of said slats incontact therewith, said brace being of a length to force said end barsapart when in place and thus apply tension to said flexible material. 7.The combination set forth in claim 4, wherein said first and secondregistration means comprise pins extending from said sideplates andreceiving holes in said end bars.